The Masterpiece Techniques of Stained Glass Window Making
by Devina Venter
http://www.fmwindow.com
Did you know that as far back as prehistoric times, people
have played with glass to fashion it with color? These
ancestors mixed in metallic salts and oxides to change the
glass from clear to colorful. Granted, they didn't possess
the scientific understanding of this technique. Still, the
process remains close to its root, with only a few minor
tweaks and twists. The scientific explanation of the magic
of stained glass begins in how ordinary light passes through
the tainted glass. As light goes through, the minerals in
the glass allow only certain portions of the color spectrum
to filter through. Any color that comes through appears as
a solid shade to the ordinary eye. Different colors are
exhibited thanks to different minerals. For instance,
metallic gold gives off a cranberry color. Also, cobalt
gives off blue. Silver, on the other hand, gives off a gold
or yellow tone. And, copper will give off a brick red or
green shade.
Stained glass was is best known to us in the form of
stained glass windows that decorate old churches and
especially cathedrals. The first written record of the
techniques for making stained glass windows date back to
1100 A.D. From 1100 to 1300 A.D. was the time period for
building the Gothic great cathedrals of Europe and these
cathedrals are known for elegant stained glass windows.
During this time period the stained glass window was more
of a design than a picture. The concept of the era was
that the cathedrals were being built for the honor and
glory of God rather than for man.
The 1400 AD to 1700 AD period began with the 15th Century
High Gothic period where stained glass windows art evolved
into pictures. During this early period, some artisans
preferred to paint the glass rather than use parts of glass
panels to create a scene. By 300 years later, painting on
clear glass became the norm rather than the exception. Many
noble homes and public buildings showed off finely painted
glass pictures. Unfortunately, by the 1700s, churches
started to remove their stained glass window art and this
art fell out of style.
This move away from stained glass window paints didn't last
long. When the Gothic Revival movement in the middle of the
1800s was all the rage in England, many stained glass
windows started to appear among England's architecture.
Then, when European immigrants took this art to America,
American churches and cathedrals soon were decorated with
intricate stained glass windows. Once the average
middle-class started to place stained glass in their
doorways and side panels in the 1920s and 1930s, this art
form was soon seen at home.
How is stained glass often seen today? An upswing of
interest in this window material has been noticed over the
past 30 years. It is no longer referred to as stained
glass; instead, most industries call it "art glass". Art
glass is popularly found as a free-hanging decorative piece
in anyone's window. Andersen Corporation - a United State's
quality window and doors manufacturer - has picked up on
this craze by marketing Frank Lloyd Wright art glass window
and patio door designs.
The historic techniques for making stained glass windows
remain in use today. A few hundred dedicated artisans
make their living carefully restoring stained glass
windows in churches and public buildings.
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